Manufacture of pipe-fittings.



No. 69!,454. Patented Ian. 2|, I902. c. A. mes. MANUFACTURE OF PIPE.FITTINGS. (Application filed Sept. 19, 1900. Renewed May 24, 1901.)

(ModeL) VENT 0H ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES ,ATENT FFICE.

CHARLES A. DIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MANUFACTURE OF PIPE-FITTINGS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 691,454, dated January21, 1902.

Application filed September 19, 1900- RenewedMay 24:, 1901, Serial No.611804. (Model) T0 [LZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES A. DIES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Methods ofManufacturing Pipe-Fittings, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing pipe-fittingsof wrought metal.

The object of the present improvementis to provide a simple, economical,and effective method of manufacturing gas, steam, and other likeheavypipe fittings and with which in the formation of the lateral neckor necks of the fitting the metal of the main body of the fitting isupset in an endwise direction to aiford the required amount of metal inthe operation of forming such lateral neck or necks upon such main bodyof the fitting, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be moreparticularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an apparatus for carrying outthe present improved method of manufacture, Figures 1 and 2 are centralsectional elevations of the dies and formers adapted to make an ordinaryT-fitting, the parts being shown in the two intermediate positionsbetween the initial and the finat position of the parts; Fig. 3, asectional elevation of the fittingblank in its original condition; Fig.4, a similar view of the same in a partially-formed condition; Fig. 5, asimilar view of the same in a rough-finished shape ready for finalfinish; Fig; 6, a similar Viewof the fitting in its finished condition.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the blank from which the fittingis to be formed in the present process of manufacture, and which blankconsists of a section of tubing having a length sufi'icien't to afiordthe necessary metal for displacement in the formation of the usuallateral neck or necks of the pipefitting in the present method.

The combined blank-holder and formingdie of the present apparatusconsists of two or more substantially counterpart sections or members 2and 3, the divisional line of whichmay be in a vertical planeintersecting the axis of the cylindrical forming-punches of theapparatus. The interiors of such die-sections are recessed out tocorrespond with the outer configuration of the particular pipe-fittingto be manufactured.

4 is the stationary forming core-piece or abutment, which in the presentconstruction of apparatus is formed with a cylindrical portion 5 of adiameter equal to that of the bore of the pipe-fitting to bemanufactured, a cylindrical intermediate portion 6 of a diameter equalto the outer diameter of the pipe-fitting and filling an end of the mainbore of the forming-die, and with an enlarged outer end or main portion4, adapted to abut against an end of the forming-die, as shown in Figs.1 and 2. In the construction shown the end surface of the shank portion5 is flattened to form a track, upon which moves the forming sphere orballhereinafter described, While the shoulder or offset formed by thejunction of the shank 5 and cylindrical portion 6 is adapted to form anend abutment for the next adjace nt end of the fitting-blank 1, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

7 is the movable forming punch or plunger, formed like the core-piece orabutment 4, with a corresponding cylindrical shank 8, fitting the boreof the fitting-blank 1, with an intermediate cylindrical portion 9, of adiameter equal to the outer diameter of the pipe, fitting and fillingthe other end of the main bore of the forming-die, and with an enlargedouter end or main portion 7, adapted to contact against an end of theforming-die, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to limit the inward movement ofthe forming-plunger. In like manner the shoulder or oifset formed by thejunction of shank 8 and the cylindrical portion 9 is adapted to form anend abutment for the next adjacent end of the fitting-blank 1, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to force or upset the same inwardly in thefirst or initial swaging or upsetting action of the present method ofmanufacture, while the inner end of the cylindrical shank is beveled offto form an inclined surface adapted to engage the forming sphere or ball10 to force the same laterally upon an inward movement of the movableplunger 7 10 represents the lateral neck forming spheres or balls,usually two in number, and having a diameter equal to the internaldiameter of the lateral neck to be formed on the pipe-fitting, and whichforming balls or spheres are adapted to be forced laterally by theinclined end of the shank of the movable plunger 7.

In the present manufacture the Wall of the blank will not afford metalsufficient to be drawn into and form the lateral neck or necks of thefitting, and accordingly the present invention involves as averymaterial feature thereof a combined drawing action by means of theforming-spheres 10 and an upsetting action upon the end of the tubularblank 1 by means of the shouldered extension 9 of the forming-plunger 7to force or upset sufficient metal toward the central part of thefitting undergoing manufacture and supply the necessary amount of metalrequired in forming the lateral neck or necks of the pipefitting.

The operation of the present apparatus in detail comprises the followingproceedings: The blank 1 is introduced into the bore of the forming-diemembers 2 and 3 and the-stationary core-piece 4 inserted in place, aswell as the movable plunger 7, with a forming-sphere 10 between saidlast-mentioned members L and 7. With the application of the proper forceto the movable plunger 7 the forming-ball is forced laterally to form anenlargement upon the side of the blank 1, as illustrated in Fig. 1.Simultaneously with the formation of such enlargement the metal of theblank is upset toward the center of the blank to afford additional metalfor the formation of such enlargement-of the required thickness. It hasbeen found from practical experience with the present method that withthe blank in a heated condition, usually a red heat, the lateral drawingaction above described will absorb nearly the whole of the metal, whichis simultaneously upset toward the center of the blank, and that but avery slight thickening of the blank opposite said lateral enlargementwill take place, and which thickening can be left in the fitting orsubsequently removed in the final finishing operation upon the blank, asthe judgment of the manufacturer may suggest. The next step will be theformation of an orifice 11 by any usual means in the crown of theenlargement, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a backing out of the plunger 7,and the introduction of a second formingsphere behind the sphere alreadyin use, in manner clearly indicated in Fig. 2. With a second inwardstroke of the plunger 7 the two forming-spheres 10 10 are forcedlaterally and the lateral enlargement is spread to form a lateral neck12, having a bore of the required diameter, the blank as so formed beingillustrated in Fig. 5. The blank thus formed can then be trimmed off andotherwise finished in any usual and suitable manner that the judgment ofthe manufacturer may dictate.

It is evident that with very slight modification of the operative partsof the apparatus herein illustrated the same can.be adapted tomanufacture pipe-fittings of the cross and similar types.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described method of manufacturing wrought-metalpipe-fittings, which consists in forming in the side of a tubular blanka hollow lateral enlargement, and during such formation of theenlargement upsetting the blank endwise to afiord the amount of metalnecessary to form such lateral enlargement of the required thickness,substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described method of manufacturing wrought-metalpipe-fittings, which consists, in forming on the side of a tubular blanka lateral enlargement and simultaneously upsetting the tubular blankendwise to afford the amount of metal necessary to form such lateralenlargement of the required thickness, forming a perforation in thecrown of such enlargement, and finally spreading the said enlargementinto the form of a lateral neck upon the main body of the fitting,substantially as set forth.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th day of September, 1900.

CHARLES A. DIES.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, JOHN ENDERS, Jr.

